Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

escorted us. It felt like we walked a mile just to reach them, climbing a sloping manicured lawn that declared money and power. Fleetingly, I wondered who had been living here or maintaining it during the years Lilith had been gone.
    Once through the front doors the sheer volume of exiles inside struck us. They sneered, excited and dangerously stimulated to see us in their territory. Phoenix continued to shield us, not missing a beat when one of the exiles lost control. It was incredible that he commanded as much rule over them as he did, but even so, by the time we reached the end of the hallway, Phoenix had left four exiles writhing on the ground. As per an agreement, Lincoln and I had refrained from assisting.
    Phoenixled us into what must have once been a grand ballroom. Now it was more of a shrine. Black carpet ran down the middle towards a hugely elaborate and ugly golden throne, on which sat Lilith.
    My senses registered her power and I stumbled, Lincoln’s hand was at my elbow to steady me. I had seen her at the Academy, but hadn’t sensed her like I did now. She sat tall, flanked by two exiles. One was Olivier.
    He stepped forward and motioned to two other exiles. ‘Disarm them.’
    The exiles were thorough and found all our hidden weapons quickly.
    Power emanated from Lilith like a living breathing force that she fed to the world. Her hair was mesmerising, long to her waist and a vibrant orange-gold colour, each strand like precious spun toffee. Her eyes were a soft peach colour but lined in heavy black to look altogether striking. She watched us approach; her unflinching birdlike stare studying every movement. And not just ours. She examined everyone and everything around her with the same intense scrutiny.
    She shifted on her throne. Crossing her legs and sitting a little taller. It was an understatement to describe her as beautiful. The fact that she took my breath away only gave me a small indication of what she – Lady Lust – did to the opposite sex. As if sensing this thought, the corner of her lip curled as she looked at me and then Lincoln. Dressed provocatively in a revealing blood-red dress there was no doubt she enjoyed the control she could wield over men.
    I glancedat Lincoln, half expecting to see him salivating, but his eyes were not even looking in her direction. I followed his line of sight and had to hold back a gasp.
    Human men lay on the floor around her, barely dressed, exhausted and nearing death. They were chained to her throne and looked as if they had been there for weeks with no food or drink and yet each of them watched Lilith with desire. They were smothered in a dense black coating, which I suddenly realised was actually shadow. I was tapping into Lincoln’s shadow-finding abilities.
    Lincoln took my hand in his. There was a time I would have shrugged free of such a display, would have thought it weak. But I no longer cared. I didn’t want to stand alone any more, or prove I didn’t need anyone. I did. And what Lincoln and I had went beyond that now.
    I didn’t miss Lilith’s look of frustration when she noticed Lincoln’s attention was not on her, but she covered it quickly with a killer smile.
    I glanced around quickly. Evelyn was nowhere to be seen.
    ‘Remarkable really,’ Lilith said, her musical voice and rounded accent timeless. She looked at me. ‘Such a plain girl – nothing striking about you, and yet I find I must compete with you. And most disturbingly,’ she turned a less friendly look on Phoenix, ‘you hold the heart of my offspring, even though you have clearly given yours to another. My, my… well, I suppose I should thank you.’
    She turnedher smile up another notch and I was almost surprised a choir didn’t start to sing in the background.
    ‘I must assume that without your actions my son may never have discovered his backbone and brought me back. Unfortunately for you, my gratitude has always been short-lived and your heritage inspires a specifically … passionate response.’ She stood up and I braced myself for her to approach me, but she just looked down on us.
    ‘We’re here for the children,’ I said, seeing no point in encouraging chitchat.
    ‘Of course you are. And I am sure that it has been explained to you that I am not without compassion.’ She moved towards one of the men at her feet and patted him on the head. His cheeks were completely sunken in starvation yet he moaned in delight at her touch. ‘I will grant you the